A Texan conservative Anglican -- yes, a square peg -- ponders both churchly and worldly things and enjoys his new church.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

“Fill the Boot” Should Be Booted Off the Streets

I’ve written another
article for The Paper Trail News that also applies nationwide.For in many cities one has to dodge
firemen and their “Fill the Boot” campaigns for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
and other causes.The problem isn’t
the worthy ends but the means which endanger drivers and firemen as well.

So, no, I’m not mean . .
. on a good day.I just prefer not
to have to dodge firemen when I drive.

Anyway read for yourself.(And you
may find a counterpoint over at The Paper Trail News.)

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Next month, we will have to
dodge more than just Spring Breakers on local roads.For the Corpus Christi Fire Department will be at major
intersections with their Fill the Boot campaign on behalf of the Multiple
Dystrophy Association (MDA).So be
careful as you drive.

But that friendly advice
begs the question – should the Fill the Boot campaign be allowed on the streets
at all?This may rub some people
the wrong way, but I emphatically say, “NO!”

Although MDA has had a
controversy or two, let’s assume it is a worthy cause.And certainly we should want to help
those with Multiple Dystrophy and do what we can to combat this disease.

But the ends do not justify
the means.So lets look at the
means used by the Fire Department during their Fill the Boot campaign.

In already busy
intersections, they roam right on the edge of traffic and even in the midst of
cars carrying about their boots to fill.Anyone who has driven much in Corpus knows that these intersections are
often not easy to navigate already.Yet I’ve more than once experienced firemen making it even more
difficult. Not only are the
well-meaning firemen hazards to avoid, but they increase the visual busyness of
intersections - and certain intersections, especially along SPID, are busy
enough already!The presence of
firemen all about increases the number of things a driver must be aware of and
avoid and makes intersections that much more complicated to navigate.

The firemen therefore
increase the likelihood an overwhelmed driver will miss something, make an
error, and have an accident.That’s not to mention the hazard to the firemen as well.

One year, I was waiting for
a light at Waldron and SPID.I was
aware of the Fill the Boot campaign around the intersection and was that much
more careful and alert.When the
light turned green, I began to put on the gas . . . when a fireman darted right
in front of me.I jammed on the
brakes.Fortunately, no one was
run over and there were no collisions.But what if I was slightly less alert?What if my reflexes were slightly slower?What if the person behind me was on
mental autopilot and rear-ended me?

Again, MDA may be a very
worthy cause.But would we
tolerate traffic hazards being so increased for any number of other worthy
causes?Would we tolerate private
organizations roaming in and around intersections for their favorite
causes?I would not.And the city should not.And no city agency should so endanger
us.

Other cities and counties
around the nation, including Oklahoma City and Charleston, S. C. are taking the
Fill the Boot campaign off of the streets due to safety concerns.Corpus Christi and Nueces County should,
too.